Marble Origin Of Word

Marble adj late 14c consisting of marble from marble n.

Marble origin of word.

Uncountable noun oft noun noun marble is a type of very hard rock which feels cold when you touch it and which shines when it is cut and polished. The earlier adjective in this sense was marbrin early 14c. Meaning mottled like marble is mid 15c. Beekes has suggested that a pre greek origin is probable.

The word marble derives from the ancient greek μάρμαρον mármaron from μάρμαρος mármaros crystalline rock shining stone perhaps from the verb μαρμαίρω marmaírō to flash sparkle gleam. Marble english origin history from anglo norman and old french marbre from latin marmor from ancient greek μάρμαρος perhaps related to μαρμάρεος gleaming. A type of very hard rock that has a pattern of lines going through it feels cold and can be. From 1590s as resembling marble in some figurative quality cold hard insensible etc.

The forms from french replaced old english marma which had previously been borrowed from latin.